System and method for synthesizing low-dimensional image data from high-dimensional image data using an object grid enhancement

ABSTRACT

A method for processing breast tissue image data includes processing image data of a patient&#39;s breast tissue to generate a high-dimensional grid depicting one or more high-dimensional objects in the patient&#39;s breast tissue; determining a probability or confidence of each of the one or more high-dimensional objects depicted in the high-dimensional grid; and modifying one or more aspects of at least one of the one or more high-dimensional objects based at least in part on its respective determined probability or confidence to thereby generate a lower-dimensional format version of the one or more high-dimensional objects. The method may further include displaying the lower-dimensional format version of the one or more high-dimensional objects in a synthesized image of the patient&#39;s breast tissue.

FIELD

The presently disclosed inventions relate to systems and methods for processing and displaying breast tissue images, and in particular to representing high-dimensional (e.g., 3D) structures present in breast tissue image data with a high-dimensional object grid, and then reducing the high-dimensional data to a low-dimensional (e.g., 2D) format version that can be incorporated within a synthesized image to be displayed to a medical professional.

BACKGROUND

Mammography has long been used to screen for breast cancer and other abnormalities. Traditionally, mammograms have been formed on x-ray film. More recently, flat panel digital imagers have been introduced that acquire a mammogram in digital form, and thereby facilitate analysis and storage of the acquired image data, and to also provide other benefits. Further, substantial attention and technological development have been dedicated to obtaining three-dimensional images of the breast using methods such as breast tomosynthesis. In contrast to the 2D images generated by legacy mammography systems. breast tomosynthesis systems construct a 3D image volume from a series of 2D projection images, each projection image obtained at a different angular displacement of an x-ray source relative to the image detector as the x-ray source is scanned over the detector. The constructed 3D image volume is typically presented as a plurality of slices of image data, the slices being mathematically reconstructed on planes typically parallel to the imaging detector. The reconstructed tomosynthesis slices reduce or eliminate the problems caused by tissue overlap and structure noise present in single slice, two-dimensional mammography imaging, by permitting a user (e.g.. a radiologist or other medical professional) to scroll through the image slices to view only the structures in that slice.

Imaging systems such as tomosynthesis systems have recently been developed for breast cancer screening and diagnosis. In particular, Hologic, Inc. (www.hologic.com) has developed a fused, multimode mammography/tomosynthesis system that acquires one or both types of mammogram and tomosynthesis images, either while the breast remains immobilized or in different compressions of the breast. Other companies have introduced systems that include tomosynthesis imaging; e.g., which do not include the ability to also acquire a mammogram in the same compression.

Examples of systems and methods that leverage existing medical expertise in order to facilitate, optionally, the transition to tomosynthesis technology are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,760,924, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 7,760,924 describes a method of generating a synthesized 2D image, which may optionally be displayed along with tomosynthesis projection or reconstructed images, in order to assist in screening and diagnosis.

A 2D synthesized image is designed to provide a concise representation of the 3D reconstruction slices, including any clinically important and meaningful information, such as abnormal lesions and normal breast structures, while representing in relevant part a traditional 2D image. There are many different types of lesions and breast structures, which may be defined as different types of image objects having different characteristics. For any given image object visible in the 3D volume data, it is important to maintain and enhance the image characteristics (e.g., micro-calcifications, architectural distortions, etc.) as much as possible onto the 2D synthesized image. Further, when representing multiple identified objects on the 2D synthesized image, the synthesized image may appear crowded and visually confusing. Accordingly, there exists a need for more effectively processing, synthesizing and displaying breast image data.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment of the disclosed inventions, a method for processing breast tissue image data includes obtaining image data of a patient's breast tissue; processing the image data to generate a high-dimensional grid depicting one or more high-dimensional objects in the patient's breast tissue; determining a probability or confidence of each of the one or more high-dimensional objects depicted in the high-dimensional grid; and generating a lower-dimensional format version of the one or more high-dimensional objects for display in a synthesized image of the patient's breast tissue.

These and other aspects and embodiments of the disclosed inventions are described in more detail below, in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The drawings illustrate the design and utility of embodiments of the disclosed inventions, in which similar elements are referred to by common reference numerals. These drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In order to better appreciate how the above-recited and other advantages and objects are obtained, a more particular description of the embodiments will be rendered, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. These drawings depict only typical embodiments of the disclosed inventions and are not therefore to be considered limiting of its scope.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the flow of data through an exemplary breast image acquisition and processing system in accordance with embodiments of the disclosed inventions;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the flow of data through a 2D synthesizer employing a 3D object grid and various modules that reduce objects of the grid to a 2D format for display;

FIG. 3 illustrates a first synthesized image formed from the 3D object grid of FIG. 2 without manipulating overlapping objects, and a second synthesized image formed from the same 3D object grid, but with manipulation of overlapping objects;

FIG. 4A-4D illustrate exemplary techniques for combining objects onto one or more 2D synthesized images;

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary flow diagram depicting combining objects from a 3D object grid onto a 2D synthesized image; and

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary flow diagram depicting generating one or more 2D synthesized images using a 3D object grid.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

All numeric values are herein assumed to be modified by the terms “about” or “approximately,” whether or not explicitly indicated, wherein the terms “about” and “approximately” generally refer to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited value (i.e., having the same function or result). In some instances, the terms “about” and “approximately” may include numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant figure. The recitation of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all numbers within that range (e.g., 1 to 5 includes 1, 1.5, 2, 2.75, 3, 3.80, 4, and 5).

As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. As used in this specification and the appended claims, the term “or” is generally employed in its sense including “and/or” unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. In describing the depicted embodiments of the disclosed inventions illustrated in the accompanying figures, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity and ease of description. However, the disclosure of this patent specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner. It is to be further understood that the various elements and/or features of different illustrative embodiments may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other wherever possible within the scope of this disclosure and the appended claims.

Various embodiments of the disclosed inventions are described hereinafter with reference to the figures. It should be noted that the figures are not drawn to scale and that elements of similar structures or functions are represented by like reference numerals throughout the figures. It should also be noted that the figures are only intended to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention or as a limitation on the scope of the disclosed inventions, which is defined only by the appended claims and their equivalents. In addition, an illustrated embodiment of the disclosed inventions needs not have all the aspects or advantages shown. For example, an aspect or an advantage described in conjunction with a particular embodiment of the disclosed inventions is not necessarily limited to that embodiment and can be practiced in any other embodiments even if not so illustrated.

For the following defined terms and abbreviations, these definitions shall be applied throughout this patent specification and the accompanying claims, unless a different definition is given in the claims or elsewhere in this specification:

An “acquired image” refers to an image generated while visualizing a patient's tissue. Acquired images can be generated by radiation from a radiation source impacting on a radiation detector disposed on opposite sides of a patient's tissue, as in a conventional mammogram.

A “reconstructed image” refers to an image generated from data derived from a plurality of acquired images. A reconstructed image simulates an acquired image not included in the plurality of acquired images.

A “synthesized image” refers to an artificial image generated from data derived from a plurality of acquired and/or reconstructed images. A synthesized image includes elements (e.g., objects and regions) from the acquired and/or reconstructed images, but does not necessarily correspond to an image that can be acquired during visualization. Synthesized images are constructed analysis tools.

An “Mp” image is a conventional mammogram or contrast enhanced mammogram, which are two-dimensional (2D) projection images of a breast, and encompasses both a digital image as acquired by a flat panel detector or another imaging device, and the image after conventional processing to prepare it for display (e.g., to a health professional), storage (e.g., in the PACS system of a hospital), and/or other use.

A “Tp” image is an image that is similarly two-dimensional (2D), but is acquired at a respective tomosynthesis angle between the breast and the origin of the imaging x rays (typically the focal spot of an x-ray tube), and encompasses the image as acquired, as well as the image data after being processed for display, storage, and/or other use.

A “Tr” image is a type (or subset) of a reconstructed image that is reconstructed from tomosynthesis projection images Tp, for example, in the manner described in one or more of U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,577,282, 7,606,801, 7,760,924, and 8,571,289, the disclosures of which are fully incorporated by reference herein in their entirety, wherein a Tr image represents a slice of the breast as it would appear in a projection x ray image of that slice at any desired angle, not only at an angle used for acquiring Tp or Mp images.

An “Ms” image is a type (or subset) of a synthesized image, in particular, a synthesized 2D projection image, which simulates mammography images, such as a craniocaudal (CC) or mediolateral oblique (MLO) images, and is constructed using tomosynthesis projection images Tp, tomosynthesis reconstructed images Tr, or a combination thereof. Ms images may be provided for display to a health professional or for storage in the PACS system of a hospital or another institution. Examples of methods that may be used to generate Ms images are described in the above-incorporated U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,760,924 and 8,571,289.

It should be appreciated that Tp, Tr, Ms and Mp image data encompasses information, in whatever form, that is sufficient to describe the respective image for display, further processing, or storage. The respective Mp, Ms. Tp and Tr images are typically provided in digital form prior to being displayed, with each image being defined by information that identifies the properties of each pixel in a two-dimensional array of pixels. The pixel values typically relate to respective measured, estimated, or computed responses to X-rays of corresponding volumes in the breast, i.e., voxels or columns of tissue. In a preferred embodiment, the geometry of the tomosynthesis images (Tr and Tp) and mammography images (Ms and Mp) are matched to a common coordinate system, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,702,142. Unless otherwise specified, such coordinate system matching is assumed to be implemented with respect to the embodiments described in the ensuing detailed description of this patent specification.

The terms “generating an image” and “transmitting an image” respectively refer to generating and transmitting information that is sufficient to describe the image for display. The generated and transmitted information is typically digital information.

In order to ensure that a synthesized 2D image displayed to an end-user (e.g., an Ms image) includes the most clinically relevant information, it is necessary to detect and identify three-dimensional (3D) objects, such as malignant breast mass, tumors, etc., within the breast tissue. In accordance with the inventions disclosed and described herein, this information may be used to create a high-dimensional grid, e.g., a 3D grid, that helps create a more accurate and enhanced rendering of the most important features in the synthesiLed 2D image. The high-dimensional object grid may then be used to collapse the most clinically-significant information pertaining to the identified objects to a 2D format onto one or more synthesized 2D images. Various data reduction techniques may be applied to the identified 3D objects to ensure that the most clinically-significant objects are emphasized, and less significant objects are omitted and/or de-emphasized. Additionally, or alternatively, data reduction techniques are applied to ensure that significant features of a 3D object are enhanced, while less significant features of the 3D object are de-emphasized, especially when two objects are competing for display and prominence on the one or more 2D synthesized images. Thus, as disclosed and described herein, a 3D object grid is utilized, i.e., as a component of an algorithm, for reducing high-dimensional data (e.g., 3D tomosynthesis image data) to low-dimensional data (e.g. a 2D synthesized image).

FIG. 1 illustrates the flow of data in an exemplary image generation and display system 100, which incorporates each of synthesized image generation, object identification, and display technology. It should be understood that, while FIG. 1 illustrates a particular embodiment of a flow diagram with certain processes taking place in a particular serial order or in parallel, the claims and various other embodiments described herein are not limited to the performance of the image processing steps in any particular order, unless so specified.

More particularly, the image generation and display system 100 includes an image acquisition system 101 that acquires tomosynthesis image data for generating Tp images of a patient's breasts, using the respective three-dimensional and/or tomosynthesis acquisition methods of any of the currently available systems. If the acquisition system is a combined tomosynthesis/mammography system, Mp images may also be generated. Some dedicated tomosynthesis systems or combined tomosynthesis/mammography systems may be adapted to accept and store legacy mammogram images, (indicated by a dashed line and legend “Mp_(legacy)” in FIG. 1 ) in a storage device 102, which is preferably a DICOM-compliant Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) storage device. Following acquisition, the tomosynthesis projection images Tp may also be transmitted to the storage device 102 (as shown in FIG. 1 ). The storage device 102 may further store a library of known 3D objects that may be used to identify significant 3D image patterns to the end-user. In other embodiments, a separate dedicated storage device (not shown) may be used to store the library of known 3D objects with which to identify 3D image patterns or objects.

The Tp images are transmitted from either the acquisition system 101, or from the storage device 102, or both, to a computer system configured as a reconstruction engine 103 that reconstructs the Tp images into reconstructed image “slices” Tr, representing breast slices of selected thickness and at selected orientations, as disclosed in the above-incorporated patents and applications.

Mode filters 107 are disposed between image acquisition and image display. The filters 107 may additionally include customized filters for each type of image (i.e., Tp, Mp, and Tr images) arranged to identify and highlight certain aspects of the respective image types. In this manner, each imaging mode can be tuned or configured in an optimal way for a specific purpose. For example, filters programmed for recognizing objects across various 2D image slices may be applied in order to detect image patterns that may belong to a particular high-dimensional objects. The tuning or configuration may be automatic, based on the type of the image, or may be defined by manual input, for example through a user interface coupled to a display. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 1 , the mode filters 107 are selected to highlight particular characteristics of the images that are best displayed in respective imaging modes, for example, geared towards identifying objects, highlighting masses or calcifications, identifying certain image patterns that may be constructed into a 3D object, or for creating 2D synthesized images (described below). Although FIG. 1 illustrates only one mode filter 107, it should be appreciated that any number of mode filters may be utilized in order to identify structures of interest in the breast tissue.

The imaging and display system 100 further includes a 2D image synthesizer 104 that operates substantially in parallel with the reconstruction engine 103 for generating 2D synthesized images using a combination of one or more Tp, Mp, and/or Tr images. The 2D image synthesizer 104 consumes a set of input images (e.g., Mp, Tr and/or Tp images), determines a set of most relevant features from each of the input images, and outputs one or more synthesized 2D images. The synthesized 2D image represents a consolidated synthesized image that condenses significant portions of various slices onto one image. This provides an end-user (e.g., medical personnel, radiologist, etc.) with the most clinically-relevant image data in an efficient manner, and reduces time spent on other images that may not have significant data.

One type of relevant image data to highlight in the synthesized 2D images would be relevant objects found across one or more Mp, Tr and/or Tp images. Rather than simply assessing image patterns of interest in each of the 2D image slices, it may be helpful to determine whether any of the 2D image patterns of interest belong to a larger high-dimensional structure, and if so, to combine the identified 2D image patterns into a higher-dimensional structure. This approach has several advantages, but in particular, by identifying high-dimensional structures across various slices/depths of the breast tissue, the end-user may be better informed as to the presence of a potentially significant structure that may not be easily visible in various 2D slices of the breast.

Further, instead of identifying similar image patterns in two 2D slices (that are perhaps adjacent to each other), and determining whether or not to highlight image data from one or both of the 2D slices, identifying both image patterns as belonging to the same high-dimensional structure may allow the system to make a more accurate assessment pertaining to the nature of the structure, and consequently provide significantly more valuable information to the end-user. Also, by identifying the high-dimensional structure, the structure can be more accurately depicted on the synthesized 2D image. Yet another advantage of identifying high-dimensional structures within the various captured 2D slices of the breast tissue relates to identifying a possible size/scope of the identified higher-dimensional structure. For example, once a structure has been identified, previously unremarkable image patterns that are somewhat proximate to the high-dimensional structure may now be identified as belonging to the same structure. This may provide the end-user with an indication that the high-dimensional structure is increasing in size/scope.

To this end, the 2D image synthesizer 104 generates high-dimensional object grids 120 (e.g., 3D object grids) comprising one or more high-dimensional structures (e.g., 3D objects) present in the patient's breast tissue. Several techniques may be used to construct 3D object grids 120 that identify various objects in the breast tissue. It should be appreciated that this disclosure is not limited to 3D objects and/or structures, and may refer to even higher-dimensional structures, but for simplicity, the remaining disclosure will refer to 3D objects populated in a 3D object grid 120.

In one or more embodiments, the 3D object grid 120 is in the form of a 3D (volumetric) coordinate space representing a patient's breast mass, and identifies a location, identity, size, scope, and/or other characteristics of any objects or structures found in the breast mass. Examples of such objects or structures include calcifications, spiculated lesions, benign tumors, irregular masses, dense objects, etc.

In one or more embodiments, the end-user (e.g., a medical professional such as a radiologist) can access and interact with the 3D object grid 120. In other embodiments, the 3D object grid 120 is solely used by the system processor for constructing synthesized 2D images, and the end-user may not be aware of, or have access to, the 3D object grid 120.

In accordance with the disclosed embodiments, the 2D image synthesizer 104 also includes a data reduction module 122 configured to reduce the high-dimensional data populated in the 3D object grid 120 to a lower-dimensional format suitable for representation in a 2D synthesized image. The data reduction module 122 evaluates the various objects of the 3D object grid 120, and determines what objects (or what portions of objects) should be enhanced or emphasized in a final 2D synthesized image to be displayed to the end-user. For example, a clinically significant object and a routine background breast tissue object may have regions of overlap, in which case the data reduction module 122 is preferably configured to de-emphasize portions of the background breast tissue in order to highlight the clinically significant object. Further details on various data reduction techniques that may be employed by the data reduction module 122 are described below.

The synthesized 2D images may be viewed at a display system 105. The reconstruction engine 103 and 2D image synthesizer 104 are preferably connected to a display system 105 via a fast transmission link. The display system 105 may be part of a standard acquisition workstation (e.g., of acquisition system 101), or of a standard (multi-display) review station (not shown) that is physically remote from the acquisition system 101. In some embodiments, a display connected via a communication network may be used, for example, a display of a personal computer or of a so-called tablet, smart phone or other hand-held device. In any event, the display 105 of the system is preferably able to display respective Ms, Mp, Tr, and/or Tp images concurrently, e.g., in separate side-by-side monitors of a review workstation, although the invention may still be implemented with a single display monitor, by toggling between images.

Thus, the imaging and display system 100, which is described as for purposes of illustration and not limitation, is capable of receiving and selectively displaying tomosynthesis projection images Tp, tomosynthesis reconstruction images Tr, synthesized mammogram images Ms, and/or mammogram (including contrast mammogram) images Mp, or any one or sub combination of these image types. The system 100 employs software to convert (i.e., reconstruct) tomosynthesis images Tp into images Tr, software for synthesizing mammogram images Ms, software for decomposing 3D objects, software for creating feature maps and object maps. An object of interest or feature in a source image may be considered a ‘most relevant’ feature for inclusion in a 2D synthesized image based upon the application of the object maps along with one or more algorithms and/or heuristics, wherein the algorithms assign numerical values, weights or thresholds, to pixels or regions of the respective source images based upon identified/detected objects and features of interest within the respective region or between features. The objects and features of interest may include, for example, spiculated lesions, calcifications, and the like.

FIG. 2 illustrates the 2D image synthesizer 104 in further detail. As discussed above, various image slices 218 of a tomosynthesis data set (or “stack”) 202 (e.g., filtered and/or unfiltered Mp, Tr and/or Tp images of a patient's breast tissue) are input into the 2D image synthesizer 104, and then processed to determine portions of the images to highlight in a synthesized 2D image that will be displayed on the display 105. The image slices 218 may be consecutively-captured cross-sections of a patient's breast tissue. Or, the image slices 218 may be cross-sectional images of the patient's breast tissue captured at known intervals. The tomosynthesis image stack 202 comprising the image slices 218 may be forwarded to the 2D image synthesizer 104, which evaluates each of the source images in order to (1) identify various types of objects (Tr) for possible inclusion in one or more 2D synthesized images, and/or (2) identify respective pixel regions in the images that contain the identified objects.

As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the tomosynthesis stack 202 comprises a plurality of images 218 taken at various depths/cross-sections of the patient's breast tissue. Some of the images 218 in the tomosynthesis stack 202 comprise 2D image patterns. Thus, the tomosynthesis stack 202 comprises a large number of input images containing various image patterns within the images of the stack.

For example, while the tomosynthesis stack 202 may comprise one hundred images 218 captured at various depths/cross sections of the patient's breast tissue, only a few of the images 218 may include any information of significance. Also, it should be noted that the tomosynthesis stack 202 contains 2D image patterns when viewed at differing z-dimension (depth) locations of the otherwise same x, y locations in the image slices 218, but it may be difficult to determine the 3D structures based only on the various individual images, each representing a finite cross-sectional image of the breast tissue. However, the tomosynthesis stack 202 may be effectively utilized to create the 3D object grid 120. In any event, for purposes of this patent specification, it is assumed that the 3D object grid 120 is constructed by any means, including but not limited to being created from the tomosynthesis stack 202.

The 3D object grid 120 may be considered a 3D volumetric coordinate space representing a patient's breast mass. Rather than depicting 2D image patterns at various image slices, the 3D object grid 120 preferably depicts any identified 3D objects in the entire mass (or portion thereof) that represents the patient's breast tissue. The 3D object grid 120 provides fuller detail regarding various objects in the breast mass as compared to the tomosynthesis stack 202. For example, the 3D object grid 120 may use simulation techniques to infer a shape of the 3D object, even though an image slice may not have necessarily been reconstructed at every cross-sectional depth covering the respective 3D object.

The 3D object grid 120 may comprise one or more objects, as shown in the illustrated embodiment. It should be appreciated that these objects may be predefined objects that the system has been trained to identify. However, even in healthy breast tissue that does not necessarily comprise any abnormal objects or structures, the target object recognition/enhancement modules may identify a breast background object. For example, all breast linear tissue and density tissue structures can be displayed as the breast background object. In other embodiments, “healthy” objects such as spherical shapes, oval shapes, etc., may simply be identified through one or more target object recognition/enhancement modules 210. These identified 3D objects may then be displayed on the 2D synthesized image 206; of course, out of all identified 2D objects, more clinically-significant objects may be prioritized and/or enhanced when displaying the respective object on the 2D synthesized image, as will be discussed in further detail below.

In one or more embodiments, the 2D synthesizer 104 utilizes both the tomosynthesis image stack 202 along with the created 3D object grid 120 in order to merge the relevant features into one or more 2D synthesized images 206. As shown in the 2D synthesized image, the 3D objects identified in the 3D object grid 120 are collapsed into a 2D format, but provide more detail when compared to individual image slices of the tomosynthesis image stack 202. Further, although several objects, as shown in the tomosynthesis image stack 202 overlap in the z direction, identifying them as separate 3D objects allows the system to depict both objects clearly and efficiently. Simply utilizing legacy image recognizing techniques on the tomosynthesis image stack 202 may or may not necessarily provide such an accurate synthesized 2D image 206. To explain, if there is overlap in the z direction of two structures, the two structures are essentially competing with each other for display on the 2D synthesized image 206. Thus, important aspects of both structures may be compromised. Or, only one of the two structures may be highlighted at all in the 2D synthesized image 206. Or, in yet another scenario, the 2D synthesized image may depict both structures as one amorphous structure such that an important structure goes entirely undetectable for the end-user.

It will be appreciated that identifying 3D objects as separate objects with pre-defined types in the 3D object grid 120 allows the system to depict the structures more accurately on the 2D synthesized image 206, and allows for various objects to be depicted simultaneously, even if there is an overlap of various objects in the coordinate space. Thus, utilizing the 3D object grid 120 has many advantages for producing a more accurate and visually-effective 2D synthesized image 206.

In one or more embodiments, data from the tomosynthesis stack 202 and the 3D object grid 120 are processed by one or more modules to produce the 2D synthesized image 206. More particularly, an object combination module 210 may be configured to identify the various objects of the 3D object grid 120, and determine a most optimal method to collapse all the objects on a 2D plane/format. For example, the object combination module 210 may determine x and y coordinates for the plurality of objects and determine whether there are overlaps between multiple objects to be displayed on the 2D synthesized image 206. In some embodiments, the object combination module 210 may further be configured to determine which of the identified objects should be displayed on the 2D synthesized image 206. This may be achieved through a training (or a “learning library” type) database 216 that stores an identity of various objects and associated weights of respective objects. The training database becomes more knowledgeable with the processing of each new patent breast image data, as the system derives 3D object models and (subsequently) detection mechanisms from this database, which will grow to include various samples of the same types of objects.

After the 3D objects are detected, then the next step is to utilize this same knowledge in synthesizing the 2D image. Since there may be many different types (or categories) of 3D objects, the weighting mechanism helps to combine the objects in the synthesis/data reduction process. For example, a dense spherical object may be weighed higher than a calcification (weighed 0.95 and 0.6 respectively in the illustrated embodiment), such that the dense spherical object may be enhanced to a greater degree as compared to a calcification. If the weight of an object is close to zero, the object combination module 210 may determine that the object need not be displayed at all, in some embodiments.

In one or more embodiments, an image details synthesis module 212 may be configured to determine what 3D objects or what areas within a 3D object should be emphasized in the 2D synthesized image 206. For example, if there is an overlap between two objects, the image details synthesis module 212 may emphasize portions of both objects, and de-emphasize other portions of both objects such that both objects are clearly viewable on the 2D synthesized image. By manipulating aspects of both objects, the end-user may be able to identify both objects clearly. It should be appreciated that without this manipulation, both objects may simply be overlayed on top of each other, such that one object may simply be masked out and missed by the end-user.

For example, the 3D object grid 120 may include a calcification area and a spiculated lesion that overlap in the z direction. Without any specially designed image synthesis, a collapsed 2D format of the spiculated lesion and a collapsed 2D format of the calcification would be displayed on top of each other. Assuming the spiculated mass is larger, the spiculated mass may envelop the calcification entirely such that it is not visible to the end-user. Instead, the image details synthesis module 212 may emphasize the outline of the center portion of the spiculated mass, while deemphasizing the middle portion of the spiculated mass such that the calcification area is visible. This image manipulation allows the end-user a clearer picture of significant objects on the 2D synthesized image 206. FIG. 3 , described below, illustrates this system feature in further detail.

In some embodiments, the image details synthesis module 212 may comprise several algorithms and/or heuristics that are programmed with rules to determine what parts of an object to emphasize/de-emphasize based on the object database 216. For example, each object in the database 216 may correspond to metadata that defines most prominent and least-prominent features of the respective object. This metadata may be used by the various algorithms to determine which objects and/or which parts of objects to emphasize in the 2D synthesized images 206. By way of another example, a difference in weight between two overlapping objects may be calculated in order to determine whether both objects should be displayed. If the difference in weight is smaller than a predetermined threshold value, both objects may be displayed, but the assigned weight may be used to determine which of the two objects to emphasize over the other. However, if the difference in weight is larger than the predetermined threshold value, only the object corresponding to the higher weight may be displayed at all. For example, if a dense spherical mass and calcification area are competing for display (difference of 0.35 in weight as per the illustrated embodiment) and the threshold value is set at 0.4, both objects may be displayed, but the spiculated mass (or parts of the spiculated mass) may be highlighted relative to the calcification area. However, if the spiculated mass and a benign semi-spherical mass are overlapping (difference of 0.65 in weight as per the illustrated embodiment), only the dense spherical mass may be displayed at all. Other rules may be defined to allow the system to modify the objects or portions thereof.

As noted above (and in FIG. 1 ), the 2D image synthesizer 104 further includes a data reduction engine 122 configured to receive the data input from the respective image details synthesis module 212 and object combination module 210, and to reduce any 3D objects identified therein into a low level 2D format that may be inserted into the 2D synthesized image 206. In particular, and as described in further detail herein, the data reduction engine 122 accurately reduces the identified high-dimensional object of the 3D object grid 120 to a 2D format based on input received from the image details synthesis module 212, the database 216 and the object combination module 210.

FIG. 3 depicts an example of how the 3D object grid may be utilized to generate the 2D synthesized images. In the illustrated embodiment, 3D object grid 304 includes at least two 3D objects: a spiculated mass 310, and a calcification area 312. When consulting a database, the object combination module may determine that both objects are important to display in the 2D synthesized image, the spiculated mass 310 being more significant than the calcification. However, since both 3D objects 310 and 312 overlap in the z direction, the images may have to be manipulated such that both objects are still optimally displayed on the 2D synthesized image. In particular, the 2D synthesized image 306 displays a synthesized image that does not use any image manipulation techniques described in this disclosure. As shown in 2D synthesized image 306, both 3D objects 310 and 312 are competing to be displayed, and neither object is displayed very clearly. More specifically, the calcification 312 is barely visible in the 2D synthesized image 306.

By contrast, referring to 2D synthesized image 308, the techniques described with respect to FIG. 2 are utilized in order to determine what parts of the respective 3D object should be emphasized and de-emphasized such that both objects are clearly discernible in the 2D synthesized image. More particularly, although spiculated mass 310 is more significant than the calcification 312, the center portion of the spiculated mass 310 is slightly de-emphasized such that the calcification area is clearly visible. Similarly, it may be determined that the linear lines radiating from the center portion should be emphasized such that the end-user understands a size or scope of the spiculated mass. In light of the modified image corresponding to the spiculated mass 310, the calcification 312 is now visible even though both objects overlap. Thus, as shown in FIG. 3 , the 2D synthesized image 308 provides more details about both 3D objects 310 and 312 when compared to 2D synthesized image 306.

FIGS. 4A-4D depict exemplary embodiments of displaying various objects of the 3D object grid, while preserving clinically-significant information. In particular, the collapsing of a 3D object into the 2D synthesized image may be achieved by the respective object combination module, image synthesis module and data reduction module that work together to display as much clinically-significant information as possible.

FIG. 4A shows an example embodiment of an intra-object combination. Intra-object combination may refer to techniques used to represent a single object (that is captured on multiple Tr image slices 404) onto the 2D synthesized image. More particularly, an identified 3D object may appear in many consecutive Tr image slices as 408 a, 408 b and 408 c. In theory these image patterns compete with each other for representation on the 2D synthesized image. Thus, an intra-object combination requires recognizing that all the images slices belong to the same 3D object, and only showing relevant information pertaining to the 3D object on the 2D synthesized image 406. Notably, as shown in FIG. 4A, the system may determine that all the image patterns 408 a, 408 b and 408 c from the Tr stack 404 belong to the same 3D object, and may collapse them together such that they appear as one object 410 in the 2D synthesized image 406. In one or more embodiments, techniques such as averaging, MIP (maximum intensity projection), filtering, etc. may be used for intra-object combination. Intra-object combination techniques aim to preserve the structure of the 3D object without losing valuable information from any of the image slices, while minimizing competing information from multiple image slices that do not provide valuable information and/or visually confuse the end-user.

FIG. 4B illustrates an example embodiment of an object vs background combination. Object vs. background combination may be important for creating a natural-looking 2D synthesized image. Ihe goal of this technique is to maintain useful information from objects together with meaningful background information representative of breast tissue. In the illustrated embodiment, the Tr stack 414 comprises two Tr image slices. The first image slice comprises a background image pattern 412. The second image slice comprises an object or a portion of an object 411. In collapsing information from the Tr stack 414 to the 2D synthesized image 416, some aspects of both image slices are emphasized while other aspects are de-emphasized. For example, in 2D synthesized image 416, the object 411 is preserved, and the background 412 is also rendered, but the middle portion of the background 412 is de-emphasized.

FIG. 4C illustrates an example embodiment of inter-object combination without overlapping. In the illustrated embodiment, Tr stack 424 comprises two Tr image slices. One Tr image slice comprises object 422, and the other Tr image slice comprises object 421. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, these objects do not overlap in the z direction. Thus, when collapsing both objects onto the 2D synthesized image 426, both objects 421 and 422 are represented clearly at their respective x-y locations.

FIG. 4D illustrates an example embodiment of inter-object combination with overlap. This technique may be performed when two or more objects overlap to some degree. The two objects may be of the same type or of different types. In case of an overlap of objects, a hierarchical approach may be used to determine which object should be given precedence over the other. For example, if a higher weight is assigned to a first object, the first object may be emphasized in the 2D synthesized object, while the second object (or portions of the second object) may be de-emphasized. Or, if both objects are equally, or almost equally, important, both objects may be represented equally even if they are overlapping (and portions of both objects may be emphasized/de-emphasized such that both objects are clear in the synthesized 2D image).

In the illustrated embodiment, Tr image stack 434 comprises two Tr image slices. One Tr image slice comprises object 432, and the other Tr image slice comprises object 431. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, these objects overlap in the z direction. Thus, when collapsing the objects onto the 2D synthesized image 436, both objects 431 and 432 are represented, but are shown to overlap. Depending on weights assigned to both objects, one object may be highlighted while the other is de-emphasized. In the illustrated embodiment, both objects are represented somewhat equally, even though it is clear that they represent two separate objects. In other embodiments (not shown), if object 431 is assigned a higher weight/priority, object 431 may be emphasized in the foreground, while object 432 may be relegated to the background. Similarly, other combination techniques may be utilized to optimally represent clinically-significant information to the end-user.

FIG. 5 depicts an exemplary embodiment of collapsing information from a plurality of Tr images into a 2D synthesized image. In particular, a Tr image stack 504 may be used to create a 3D object grid similar to the 3D grid shown in FIG. 2 . The Tr stack 504 illustrates four distinct objects including two calcification areas 510 and 512, a spiculated mass 514, and a spherical mass 516. As discussed in detail above, identifying these four objects as separate and distinct objects allows the system to accurately depict the objects as a whole on the 2D synthesized image 506. In the illustrated embodiment, the spiculated mass 514 is shown most prominently, while the calcifications and the spherical mass 516 are not as emphasized. This allows an end-user to easily identify the most clinically significant part of the 2D synthesized image without being overwhelmed with objects that are less-significant.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram 600 provided to illustrate exemplary steps that may be performed in an image merge process carried out in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosed inventions. At step 602, an image data set is acquired. The image data set may be acquired by a tomosynthesis acquisition system, a combination tomosynthesis/mammography system, or by retrieving pre-existing image data from a storage device, whether locally or remotely located relative to an image display device. At step 604, a 3D object grid may be constructed by identifying various objects that are present in a 3D coordinate space representative of a patient's breast tissue. At step 606, the objects of the 3D object grid are recognized, and a relative weight/priority of each of the objects is determined. As discussed above, in some embodiments, all objects of the 3D object grid may be displayed, with some objects emphasized more than others. In other embodiments, only a subset of the recognized objects may be displayed at all, while less-significant objects are omitted.

For example, it may be determined that one object is much more clinically significant as compared to another. Or, it may be determined that two overlapping objects are equally significant. In this case, algorithms aiming to visually depict both objects optimally may be utilized, rather than highlighting one object over another. At step 608, based on the relative weight/priority of the objects, the 3D objects may be reduced to a 2D format to create the 2D synthesized image. This reduction process may highlight one object over another, in some embodiments. In other embodiment, the reduction process may highlight an outline of an object while de-emphasizing an interior of the object.

In yet another embodiment, the reduction process may emphasize one or more features that are deemed to be significant, while de-emphasizing less significant aspects of the same object. For example, in the case of a spiculated lesion, it may be important to display the blood supply lines emanating from the center of the spiculated mass, but the center of the spiculated mass, even if dense may be displayed with less emphasis. Any number of such enhancement techniques may be used in the data reduction process. At step 610, the synthesized 2D image is displayed to the end-user.

Having described exemplary embodiments, it should be appreciated that the examples described above and depicted in the accompanying figures are only illustrative, and that other embodiments and examples also are encompassed within the scope of the appended claims. For example, while the flow diagrams provided in the accompanying figures are illustrative of exemplary steps; the overall image merge process may be achieved in a variety of manners using other data merge methods known in the art. The system block diagrams are similarly representative only, illustrating functional delineations that are not to be viewed as limiting requirements of the disclosed inventions. It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made to the depicted and/or described embodiments (e.g., the dimensions of various parts), without departing from the scope of the disclosed inventions, which is to be defined only by the following claims and their equivalents. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense. 

1-23. (canceled)
 24. A method for processing breast tissue image data, comprising: obtaining a set of image slices that collectively depict the patient's breast tissue; identifying an image pattern in two or more slices of the set of image slices; generating a high-dimensional object grid depicting the image pattern from the two or more slices of the set of image slices; determining that the image pattern from the two or more slices of the set of image slices comprises one high-dimensional object having a high-dimensional feature; and generating, based on the high-dimensional object grid and the determining that the image pattern from the two or more slices comprises one high-dimensional object, a lower-dimensional format image of the high-dimensional object depicting the high-dimensional feature.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein generating the lower-dimensional format image of the high-dimensional object includes modifying one or more aspects of the high-dimensional object in order to depict the high-dimensional feature in the lower-dimensional format image.
 26. The method of claim 25, wherein modifying one or more aspects of the high-dimensional object comprises adjusting at least one of the one or more aspects to be more transparent.
 27. The method of claim 25, wherein modifying one or more aspects of the high-dimensional object comprises adjusting at least one of the one or more aspects to have higher contrast than one or more remaining aspects of the one or more aspects.
 28. The method of claim 25, wherein modifying one or more aspects of the high-dimensional object comprises adjusting at least one of the one or more aspects to be darker than one or more remaining aspects of the one or more aspects.
 29. The method of claim 24, wherein generating the lower-dimensional format image of the high-dimensional object comprises generating a synthesized two-dimensional image of the patient's breast tissue.
 30. The method of claim 29, further comprising displaying the synthesized two-dimensional image.
 31. The method of claim 24, further comprising determining that the image pattern from the two or more slices of the set of image slices comprises two or more objects.
 32. The method of claim 31, further comprising determining an x-coordinate and a y-coordinate for each of the two or more objects.
 33. The method of claim 32, further comprising determining, based on the x-coordinate and the y-coordinate for each of the two or more objects, that a first object of the at least two objects is on a first slice of the set of image slices, that a second object of the at least two objects is on a second slice of the set of image slice, and that the first and second objects overlap.
 34. The method of claim 33, further comprising, modifying, based on determining that at least two of the two or more objects overlap, a first object of the at least two overlapping objects in the lower-dimensional format image.
 35. The method of claim 34, wherein the first object is modified such that the first object is more visible than a second object of the at least two overlapping objects in the lower-dimensional format image.
 36. The method of claim 34, wherein the first object is modified such that the first object is less visible than a second object of the at least two overlapping objects in the lower-dimensional format image.
 37. The method of claim 36, wherein the first object is modified such that the first object and a second object of the at least two overlapping objects are both visible in the lower-dimensional format image.
 38. The method of claim 36, wherein the first object and the second object are fused such that one or more aspects of each object is visible.
 39. The method of claim 31, wherein each of the two or more objects is associated with a respective set of aspects, wherein the set of aspects collectively represent one or more of a location, a size, a shape, and a morphology of the patient's breast tissue depicted by the object.
 40. The method of claim 24, wherein the high-dimensional object is at least one of a calcification, a spiculated lesion, a benign tumor, a regular mass, an irregular mass, or a dense object.
 41. A system comprising: a computer-readable memory storing executable instructions; and one or more processors in communication with the computer-readable memory, wherein, when the one or more processors execute the executable instructions, the one or more processors perform: obtaining a set of image slices that collectively depict the patient's breast tissue; identifying an image pattern in two or more slices of the set of image slices; generating a high-dimensional object grid depicting the image pattern from the two or more slices of the set of image slices; determining that the image pattern from the two or more slices of the set of image slices comprises one high-dimensional object having a high-dimensional feature; and generating, based on the high-dimensional object grid and the determining that the image pattern from the two or more slices comprises one high-dimensional object, a lower-dimensional format image of the high-dimensional object depicting the high-dimensional feature.
 42. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored theron one or more sequences of instructions for causing one or more processors to perform: obtaining a set of image slices that collectively depict the patient's breast tissue; identifying an image pattern in two or more slices of the set of image slices; generating a high-dimensional object grid depicting the image pattern from the two or more slices of the set of image slices; determining that the image pattern from the two or more slices of the set of image slices comprises one high-dimensional object having a high-dimensional feature; and generating, based on the high-dimensional object grid and the determining that the image pattern from the two or more slices comprises one high-dimensional object, a lower-dimensional format image of the high-dimensional object depicting the high-dimensional feature. 